Eagles enjoying rare roster harmony after so much discontent

PHILADELPHIA — Michael Vick, LeSean McCoy and DeSean Jackson, who represent the three points of the Philadelphia Eagles' Bermuda Triangle for opposing defenses, each are being paid what they're worth for the first time since they were assembled in 2009.

All of the draft picks except top choice Fletcher Cox have signed, and Cox is expected to follow suit long before training camp begins, thanks to a new collective bargaining agreement that gives rookies very little leverage in contract negotiations.

Former journeyman Evan Mathis wasn't left hanging very long after his contract expired in February, accepting a five-year, $25.5 million offer to settle down as the left guard for at least the next few years. New left tackle Demetress Bell did the same with a five-year deal that will keep him happy at least until it has to be adjusted next year.

Even right tackle Todd Herremans and defensive end Trent Cole were surprised with lucrative extensions long before their current deals were up.

And the Eagles are still something like $780 billion under the salary cap.

Is everybody happy?

You bet.

The Eagles this summer will enjoy almost unprecedented roster harmony, something they've rarely had since, well, former team president Joe Banner came to town with then new owner Jeffrey Lurie in 1994.

But with Banner having already turned over his contract negotiation duties to general manager Howie Roseman long before actually stepping away as president last week, the Eagles have managed to set the stage for a summer of extreme content.

Every player is motivated to push that much harder, thanks to an atmosphere created in large part by all the business Roseman took care of in timely fashion. Slowly but surely, the total power of contract management was transferred to Roseman in the years and months that followed his promotion to GM in 2010.

This spring, we're seeing the results.

"I felt incredibly prepared, based on the experience I had, the way that they brought me into this organization, doing the salary cap, doing contracts and doing pro personnel and doing college scouting," Roseman said. "It was obviously an opportunity I had looked for my whole career.

"So to be in that moment and to give me these responsibilities and also have someone here like Joe, who I can rely on and talk to, it's been incredible for me. The offseason has been a lot of fun, and now we've got to go and try to put the best team together and win games and get the excitement of this team and these fans together."

Judging from the way players and fans are talking, it sounds like that's already happened.

Not one player is thought to be unhappy with or nervous about his contract. Furthermore, each is convinced the team has enough to contend for the Super Bowl without any further tweaks.

All those who lived through last year's Dream Team meltdown are anxious to make up for lost time they believe was strictly due to the lockout and absence of the organized team activities they're bouncing through right now like rabid lions.

They only have three more days — at this week's mandatory minicamp — in which they're allowed to assemble on the field before training camp in late July. But this squad already looks and functions like the product you'd normally see in August, every player willing to push that much harder and longer for a reward they know is realistic.

"We weren't able to do this last year and it's a great thing," said tight end Brent Celek. "I think we're all taking a little bit out of it. The offense is working on timing and the defense is able to learn the scheme better, so we're all taking something out of it."

What happened on Thursday with the announcement that Banner would be taking a reduced role and Don Smolenski would be elevated to team president was merely a symbolic stamp by the club to acknowledge the changes that ostensibly began more than a year ago.

"Joe and I were incredibly confident about Howie and Don," Lurie said, "but of course it gives you even more increased comfort that once Howie had these responsibilities that things were done extremely professionally and effectively and successfully. Honestly, between Joe and me, we had zero doubt that Howie would thrive in these roles."

Neither do the players, some of whom viewed Banner as more of an adversary than an ally in times of crises.

Now, at least temporarily, there is no more heavy.

"He's got a great relationship with players," Celek said. "I knew Howie before he was GM, was always friendly with him. He knows how to communicate with the guys, connect with the guys, and I think you need to be that as a GM.

"You need to know how to talk to your guys and just generally run the team a little bit, like he does."

Unlike last season, when the Eagles tried to do too much too soon, they are in a good place now, with a belief that everything has come together perfectly.